Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-02-12
CoIored Citizens Speak.

at a meeting of the colored citixe nj
at Washington, Tuesday night Il
pass resolutions on the rejection oil
Chas. Mathews (coD by the SOM tie
foi Recorder of Willis of the Dist rici
Of Columbia, the Committee appo int
ed, reported the following, resolutions
which were adopted.
/ Whereas few men claiming to
voice the sentiments OF the colored
people OF this community and of the
colored race OF the country generally
waited upon the President Of the
United States with petition signed
by a n2mber of ministers of the Cos.
| pei. and stated to him that the color
ed people believe that Mr.. James @.
Mathews has been persecuted pol
iticaliy on account of the acciden
of color.
And whereas certain OF these min
listers have stated openly that the y
signed said petition upon a misrep-
resentation Of the facts in the case,
and that so far as the Republic an
members Of the Senate are concern ed
they do not believe the allegations
contained in said petition to be true.
And whereas his excellency, the
President of the United States, and
some OF said ministers, have been
misinformed and imposed upon ,
| therefore.
BE it resolved. BY the colored
citizens u the District of Columbia,
in mass meeting assembled, that we
indorse the action eff the United
States Senate in their rejection of Ir
James c. Mathews as recorder of
deeds for the District.
That we do not believe the action
of the members OF the Senate was
based upon color, but can safely
affirm from personal knowledge that
such action on their part was owing
to the opposition of the citizens Of
this community to the confirmation
of Mathews regardless OF color, creed,
or party. (;
That the question of Mr. Matthews
confirmation was not In any sense a
party question, Democrats as well as
Republicans opposing him, and frosa
the frequent and open denunciation
of Mr. Matthew'S by Democrats
members OF that body we cannot bat
regard the action of q few eolored
men interested in Mr.. Mathews's
behalf as that of political tr ick-
sters actuated by selfshnesa rather
than desire to further the interest
of the colored race. trtalA ~
That if the President had the in
terest of the colored race in view, and
desire to give them that recogni
zion which he and Mr.. Matthews
and friends claim. his object would
have been better achieved by allowing
Hon. Frederick Douglass one Of our
race and gentleman of national re-
putation who had filed the Office with
credit to himself and honor to our
race, to remain, but to remove Mr..
Douglass to make place for person
known only in the political precincts
of Albany cannot be accepted by us
as compliment to the negro race.
That we do not regard MIR. Math-
ows as national representative of
our race; that be cannot be so re-
garded, either by education or associa-
tion and that his only claim, 80 far as
we can see, for the position of the re-
cordership is owing 10 the service he
rendered TO the President In his po-
litieal campaign in the state of New
York
That we are in favor of home rule,
and that committee of three, con-
sisting of the chairman of this meet
ing and two others to be appointed
by said chairman, present copy Of
these resolutions to Senator John j.
Ingalls,, the chairman of the commit
tee on the District of Columbia, and
to express to him, and through him to
the other members of said committee
on the District of Columbia, our APP
probation of his and their efforts in
behalf of home rule.